Musical instrument



G. S. KELISCHEK MUSICAL INSTRUMENT March 14, 1967 N @Q Km H r m 22 m W w 5 E W a VK A W m6 /0 2 w w .v YQ QM N m m NNN $3 w March 1967 G. s. KELISCHEK MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 21, 1966 N l/E N O R, 6%]: oz e-zMKz wwmx United States Patent M 3,308,707 MUSICAL INSTRUMENT George S. Kelischek, 386 Allentlale Drive SE, Atlanta, Ga. 30317 Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 529,012 Claims. (Cl. 84-380) This invention relates to a musical instrument and particularly to an instrument of the Renaissance period generally known as the krummhorn and particularly to a musical instrument of that sort which is adapted more for mass production out of material such as plastic or the like and utilizing modern methods as opposed to hand-made krummhorns.

A krummhorn is an instrument of the Renaissance period which comes in several ranges such as soprano, alto, tenor, bass and great bass. These instruments are still very much in demand for special orchestral work, special effects, musical groups and individual satisfaction. However, the instruments must be hand-made by someone who has the musical craftsm-ans skill and there are not very many individuals able to do this. Accordingly, the instruments are in short supply and are expensive and beyond the range of a great many potential users. The present invention relates to a krummhorn including the several ranges thereof and having musical qualities comparable to and acceptable as compared with hand-made instruments but requiring less hand work and being made and assembled from parts produced by more modern methods such as plastic molding and the like. In addition, the present instrument is more easily maintained and parts are less expensive and more readily replaced and most of the repair can be done on the instrument simply by replacing inexpensive parts as compared with hand-made instruments that must be repaired by craftsman.

Generally described, and relating to one range of the instrument, such as a tenor, the main body is made in two elongated sections each having one side of a matching bore which is somewhat in a sinuous path thereby reducing the overall length of the main body. The halves of the main body snap together to form one mostly cylindrical member having the sinuous bore therethrough and the halves are held together at the lower end by a bottom end ring member and at the upper end by an upper key ring member which includes peripheral slots for three keys. Strip, gasket. cork with an adhesive back covered by a removable tape is scaled around the upper end of the body. Each key is elongated flat strip molded from plastic having key lugs that fit in the respective slots and being provided with small pieces of adhesive backed cellular foam which is easily replaced. A reed cap base is a cylindrical member having a bottom opening which fits over a flange on the upper end of the main body and has a threaded upper internal opening. The inside reed cap base has a square, axial slot in it which receives a complementary base on the double reed which is manufactured from thin plastic. A tone control ring with a threaded bottom screws into the upper threaded end of the reed cap base and adjustably positions a pair of reed clamp plates which have pads that bear against the reed. Each clamp plate has a tapered surface engaged by the inside of the control ring which may be rotated to adjust the tone. Control ring has a compartment in the upper end of it which receives a sponge holder having a tip that positions and holds a small sponge which absorbs saliva. The mouthpiece is a round cap with a protruding round or oval tip on it. The soprano and and other ranges may be provided with a crook on the end and a bell which are connected to the main body by a coupling. Most of the parts can be molded from plastic and made in quantity and assembled in a minimum of time. In fact, it is anticipated that the parts will be sold in kit form so that the purchaser may assemble his own 3,308,7d7 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 instrument and save a small amount plus having the satisfaction of performing the assembly.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a krummhorn which is manufactured from parts that may be mass produced and easily assembled.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a krummhorn which has removable and replaceable keys and key pads that may be repaired by the owner without expert assistance. 7

Still another object and advantage of this invention resides in the assembly of the krummhorn from a number of plastic or similar material parts any one of which may be easily replaced at minimum expense by the owner or user.

A primary feature of this invention is the inexpensiveness of the instrument when compared wth other known krummhorns which must be individually hand-made.

Another feature of this invention is found in the mouthpiece and reed arrangement which is inexpensive in construction and allows easy tuning of the instrument simply by rotating one of the parts.

Another object of this invention resides in the krummhorns which must be individually hand-made.

Another object of this invention resides in the sinuous or wavy construction of the bore which allows the shorter instrument with the same tone quality.

Other and further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a typical krummhorn made in accordance with the present inventi-on.

FIG. 2 is a perspective assembly view of the disassembled parts of a krummhorn of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the lower part of a soprano krummhorn.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the low key for a bass krummhorn.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the mouthpiece for the base krummhorn.

I FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bass and great bass pipe.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 for the tenor version of the present instrument, the entire instrument is designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a main or major body portion 12 which has finger key depressions 14 formed therein each having an open hole 16 therein leading to the interior bore of the body. Body 12 is generally cylindrical in nature and is presently shown in two parts which are matching parts made in a plastic mold. Each of the two parts is referred to as a section 18, 20 and generally is solid in construction except for the interior snake-like bore 22 which is sinuous in formation from the upper end 24 to the lower end 26. Upper end 24 is provided with a circumferential groove and the top flange 28 which, when the two sections 18, 20 are assembled into a unitary body or barrel 12, provide a place to encircle the barrel with a cork tape 30 of the sort which is in strip form or sheet form originally and has a removable adhesive backing 32 thereon. The lower end 26 is reduced in size providing a circumferential groove on which is fitted the end ring 30, 34. The circumferential groove on 24 receives on top of the cork 30 a key ring 36 having key slots 38 therein into which respectively is fitted a key 40 which is a flat, plastic strip of pan ticular configuration shown in the drawings having pivot pins 42 formed thereon and having a pad portion at the top on which is fitted a removable cork pad 44 of the sort which has a removable adhesive backing. The key portion of the assembled instrument is provided with small holes 46 into which fits small spring nylon members of solid, rod-like construction each having one end fitting in the hole 46 and the other end bent beneath the key 40. This provides the spring action for each of the keys and keeps the pads 44 tightly in place over the openings 50' in the body 12.

A cylindrical reed-cap base 54 has a threaded upper internal portion 6 and a cylindrical lower portion 53 which fits over the flange 28 of the body 12 to assemble the reed-cap base in place on the instrument The unique reed arrangement includes a double reed 5-8 which is made from two curved pieces of plastic or the like abutting and joining about a line at each edge and each having one-half of the base section 60 which in the present embodiment is a rectangular or square formation including four lugs 62 which fit into a complementary and corresponding and matching opening 64 in the inside bore of the reed-cap base 54. Thus, the assembled reed 58 is inserted to insert the base 60 down into the complementary slot 64 which is just slightly larger than the base 60 requiring a tight fit which firmly holds the reed 58 in proper position and in stationary alignment in the reedcap base 54. A gasket 66 may be placed beneath the reed to form a tight fitting. Pressure is applied to the reed and adjustment for tone and the like is accomplished by means of a rotary adjustment arrangement comprising a pair of clamp plates 68 of identical construction each having a tapered lug 70 on the backside thereof and having spaced leg members 72 on the bottom which fit into openings 74 inside the reed-cap base on each side of the opening 64. Sponge clamp pad numbers 74 are positioned on each side of the reed 58 and inside of each of the respective clamp plates 68 providing a resilient pressure absorbing arrangement. A reed control ring member 80 has a threaded bottom 82 which threads into the bore 56 of the reed-cap base 54 and which engages on the tapered internal face thereof of the respective tapered lug 70 whereby motion of the control ring 80 in one direction pushes the reed closer together by clamping the reed between the plates 68 and loosening the ring 80 in the other direction has the opposite effect. Through this arrangement, quick, easy and reliable tone quality is accomplished and turning is made possible by tuning the ring 80 while the instrument is being blown by the musician. The top portion of the control ring 80 is opened forming a compartment therein which receives a small internal support bracket member 86 having a protruding pin '88 thereon on which is positioned a saliva sponge 90 with the central opening 92 therethrough which fits on the pin '88 positioning the sponge in place on the reed-cap base 54 in the control ring 80. A detachable mouthpiece 94 has a protruding mouth portion 96- thereon which may either be oval or round which is easier to move for tuning.

The fingering of the instrument is accomplished by placing the first, second and third fingers of one hand on the upper holes 14 and the first, second, third and fourth fingers of the. other hand over the lower holes 14 in the manner marked as ('1) (2) (3) (4) etc., in the drawings with L meaning left and R meaning right although these may be reversed. Keys 40 are placed by the sides of the finger number one in the manner of playing a clarinet and other wood instruments.

Soprano embodiment In a soprano embodiment of FIG. 3, the parts are very similar except that the body 100 in the soprano version .includes a removable socket 102 to which is attached a crook 104 all having a bore therethrough and crook 104 receives a bell 106 which is detachably connected by means of a reduced portion 108 fitting in the socket 110. A cork 114 of the sort referred to as 32 in the previous embodiment may be placed around the connection between the socket 102 and the crook 104 to make a tighter seal. Although some of the parts may be of diiferent Size, S c as the L w-C 1 ba e and the reed parts, the con- 4 struction is essentially the same as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2.

The bass and great bass instrument has a special key shown in FIG. 4 designated 'by reference numeral and comprising a fiat key portion 122 having pivot pins 124 thereon held in place between key bracket members 126 each having a number of aligned holes 123 therein into which selectively fits the respective pivot pins 124. Also, the pad portion 130 of flat construction from plast or the like has a pad 132 attached thereto and the key ararngement 120 operates against a nylon spring 134 fitted into an opening in the manner of springs 48 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. In addition, the bass control ring shown in FIG. 5 has an opening 142 in the side which receives an oval mouthpiece 144 and the round mouthpiece cap 146 may be covered by a small crown 148. The great bass shown in FIG. 6 has the same control ring 140 as in the bass of FIG. 5 and the opening 142 in the side but receives a great bass pipe 150 which has the round mouthpiece 144 thereon.

To tune the instrument, the reed 58 is adjusted by turning the control ring 80. To prevent excess water condensation that could result in clogged tone holes, or make the reed 58 gargle, the bracket 86 which acts as a bucket and the sponge 90 should always be kept in place and when the sponge 90 is too wet it should be removed and replaced. The reed is very vital to the instrument and should be carefully handled. A pipe cleaner can be used to remove small drops of water or to clean clogged tone holes.

It is to be understood that nearly all of the parts of the present instrument may be made by molding and injection molding if so desired. The reed is made of plastic and is relatively inexpensive and easily replaced. Furthermore, it is well protected in the instrument and should give long life. facture of the instrument is durable and will withstand a great deal of wear and tear but should not be exposed to excessive heat. While the cork pads 44 will provide maximum service, as will the keys 40 and the springs 48, if these are broken or worn out for any reason they may be readily replaced by the musician himself without any expert musical repair work. Extra corks 44, strips 32, clamp pads 74, sponges 90 and the like may be kept by the musician at a minimum of expense for use when needed and replaced almost instantaneously on the job if required. Since genuine hand-made wooden krummhorns are quite expensive and are delicate instruments, the present instrument provides a krummhorn within the reach of the many musicians not previously able to own one and within the reach of smaller orchestral groups and even bands and the like such as high school and college bands which normally would not own such an instrument. Assembly is not difilcult, even with all parts dis-assembled and for this reason the instrumentmay be sold in kit form as a do-it-yourself item, passing along a saving to the purchaser. Such a kit may be sold in any degree of partial assembly from complete dis-assembly to almost assembled condition depending upon the price and market. Parts are interchangeable and may be temporarily borrowed from other instruments, in emergency or the like and only a minimum of spare parts need be carried.

While I have shown and described a tenor version of the present instrument in connection with several figures of the drawings and also soprano and bass versions, this is for purpose of description and illustration and does not constitute any sort of limitation on the scope of my invention since various alterations, changes, deviations, eliminations, substitutions, replacements, modifications, and elucidations may be made in the invention shown and described herein Without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Whatis claimed is:

1. In a production krummhorn which resembles areal The plastic used in the manu-' Renaissance krummhorn, such as a type hand-made from wood:

(a) a krummhorn body assembled from at least two interlocking sections and having a bore extending therethrough and having openings in each end of the body through which the sound and air passes, said interlocking sections forming a unitary body and each section having a bore cavity.

(b) key means on said body, and finger openings in the body to be covered and uncovered by the fingers to make different notes,

(c) a reed on said body having reed positioning means thereon,

(d) and tone adjustment means.

2. The krummhorn in claim 1, wherein:

(e) said bore extends through the body in other than a straight line, thereby shortening the length that would be required for a krumrnhorn tone.

3. The krummhorn in claim 1, wherein:

(f) there is a removable reed holder having the reed stationarily mounted inside, and there is a clamp means adjustably changing or releasing the reed through the action of the tone control member.

4. The device in claim 1, wherein said key means includes:

(g) a key ring fitting over said body and having key slots therein,

(h) keys having pivot means thereon fitting into said key slots and having flat pad portions,

(i) removable and replaceable pads on said keys each having adhesive back stuck to said keys.

5. The device in claim 4, wherein said springs each is a resilient, solid member of nylon or the like having one end fitted in a hole in the body.

6. The device in claim 3, wherein there is: a pair of reed clamp plates, there being one on each side of said reed inside of said reed cap base and each being mounted on said reed cap base on one end and having a tapered portion on the other end,

said control member including a control ring threadedly engaging said reel cap base and also having a tapered portion internally thereof engaging the tapered portion on said clamp plates whereby motion in one direction squeezes said reed and motion in the other direction releases same for tuning the reed. 7. In a musical instrument which is very similar to the Renaissance krumrnhorn:

(a) an instrument body constructed from two longitudinal sections placed together as. a unit in coextensive relationship,

(b) said instrument body having an internal bore therethrough extending the length of the body and having openings in each end thereof through which the air and sound passes,

(c) removable key retaining means on said body,

((1) removable keys mounted on said key retaining means and having pad portions,

(e) a reed cap base detachably mounted on the body of said instrument and having an open bore leading therethrough into the bore of said body,

(f) a reed member removably and station-arily fitting in said reed cap base and which properly positions the reed therein,

(g) reed clamp means,

(h) a tone control means on said reed cap base arranged whereby motion in one direction squeezes said reed and motion in the other direction releases same for tuning the reed by rotation of the control ring.

8. The device in claim 7 wherein there is:

a sponge retaining means removably located inside of said reed base,

a sponge mounted on said sponge retaining means, and

a removable mouthpiece removably positioned on said control ring and having a mouth engaging portion thereon.

9. The device in claim 7, said reed clamp means having:

a pair of clamp plates, there being one on each side of said reed inside of said reed cap base and each being mounted on said reed cap base on one end and having a tapered portion on the other end,

a control ring threadedly engaging said reed cap base and also having a tapered portion internally thereof engaging the tapered portion on said clamp plates whereby motion in one direction squeezes said reed and motion in the other direction releases same for tuning the reed.

10. The device in claim 7 wherein said instrument is provided with a removable crook on the bottom thereof and a removable bell on said crook, and there being an additional key mounted on said crook.

No references cited.

RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A PRODUCTION KRUMMHORN WHICH RESEMBLES A REAL RENAISSANCE KRUMMHORN, SUCH AS A TYPE HAND-MADE FROM WOOD: (A) A KRUMMHORN BODY ASSEMBLED FROM AT LEAST TWO INTERLOCKING SECTIONS AND HAVING A BORE EXTENDING THERETHROGH AND HAVING OPENINGS IN EACH END OF THE BODY THROUGH WHICH THE SOUND AND AIR PASSES, SAID INTERLOCKING SECTIONS FORMING A UNITARY BODY AND EACH SECTION HAVING A BORE CAVITY. (B) KEY MEANS ON SAID BODY, AND FINGER OPENINGS IN THE BODY TO BE COVERED AND UNCOVERED BY THE FINGERS TO MAKE DIFFERENT NOTES, (C) A REED ON SAID BODY HAVING REED POSITIONING MEANS THEREON, (D) AND TONE ADJUSTMENT MEANS. 